Upward acting door with cable actuating mechanism



y 2 1940- H. J. 51585 EIAL 2,201,635

UPWARD ACTING DOOR WITH CABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 ,1 In Tal i i; [5A- 30 42 35 H I 6+ I i 66 f I 22 I I 63 I /.9 /3 ll/ May 21, 1940. H. .1. 51555 El AL 2,201,635

UPWARD ACTING DOOR WITH CABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1938 s Sheets-Shet 2 fiars May 21, 1940. H. J. suzss ET AL UPWARD ACTING DOOR WITH CABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES UPWARD ACTING DOOR WITH CABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM Henry J. Siess and Joseph E. Casse, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Crawford Door Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,393

15 Claims.

rotatable winding drums or mandrels carried at the tops of the doors. Cables are anchored at one end on the winding drums and are trained around sheaves or pulleys carried by the lower portions of the doors. The cables pass through the doors and are secured at their other ends to the tops of the doorways in which the doors are mounted. Coil springs can be provided in the winding drums for rotating the drums to wind the cables therearound and thus move the bottom of the door towards the top of the door opening. Horizontal tracks extend inwardly from the door opening and receive rollers carried by the tops of the doors so that as the doors are moved from a closed vertical position to an open horizontal position, the top ends of the doors move inwardly along the tracks. l

The doors of this invention are inexpensive, readily installed and simple in operation. They are especially well adapted ,for commercial competition with hinged doors while at the same time they provide all of the advantages of upward acting or overhead doors.

It is then an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and simple operating upward acting door.

40 A further object of this invention is to provide upward acting doors balanced by cables or other flexible means that are anchored at one end to the top of the doorway and at the other end to a rotatable winding drum carried by the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide cable winding drums on closure-members for balancing the closure members.

A further object of the invention is to provide I sheets of drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken elevational view of a doorway viewed from the inside thereof and having a door according to this invention mounted therein. I

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the doorway and door shown in Figure 1 but illustrating the door in partially opened position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line III-III of Figure 2. 1

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line V-V of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line VIIVII of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a doorway and door construction according to a modified form of this invention.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary broken vertical elevation taken from the inside of the modified door and doorway construction shown in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral l0 designates a door for closing the doorway II in a building such as a garage or the like. Doorway I I is defined by side door jambs l2, a floor or sill l3, and a lintel l4.

Horizontal tracks l5 extend into the building from each side jamb I2 near the top of the doorway The tracks l5 each have curved bottom flanges l5a facing the door opening and top horizontal flanges I5b for holding rollers or the like in the grooves formed by the bottom flanges l5a.

Weatherstrips l6 (Figure 1) aresecured to the insides of the door jambs I2 and extend into the doorway II. These weatherstrips I6 do not extend to the top of the doorway, but preferably terminate above the middle of the doorway. The top ends of the weatherstrips l6 are cut transversely as at I! and flanges I8 are bent inwardly above the cuts l'|.- These flanges morale strips l8 slope toward the doorway and act "as guides for centering the door I!) in thedoorway'whenthe same is moved from an overhead'position', as will v l be more fully hereinafter described.

' Striker plates H! are fastened to the jambs |2 at the bottoms thereof to actas abutments for the door.

The door |6 has weatherstrips 26 extending along the sides from the top thereof to the cut portions of'the weatherstrips'l6. ,These weatherstrips 26 extend laterally from the inner side of the door 6 to overlap the door jambs I2.

A metal angle beam 2| is bolted transversely across the door ID on the inner face of the door near the bottom thereof. Brackets 22 are secured to the ends of the angle beam 2 I. Links or rigid metal arms 23 are pivoted at their bottom ends to the brackets 22. The top ends of the links 23 are pivoted to brackets 24 stationarily secured on the inner sides of the door jambs 2. The brackets "24, however, project into the door opening so as to permit free swinging movement of the links 23 in the door opening.

As best shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, a housing member25 is bolted to the angle beam 2| at the center of the door l6. An opening or slot 26 is cut through the door l6 in front of the housing 25. A sheave or grooved pulley 21 is rotatably mounted in the housing 25 and extends into the opening 26 of the door.

The outer face of the door l6 has a vertical groove 28 therein extending from the opening 26 to the top of the door.

As best shown in Figure 1, a second metal angle 'beam 36 extends transversely across the top portion of the door on the inner face thereof. The beam 36 has the inturned horizontal leg 36a thereof preferably in spaced relation from the very top edge of the door I6.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 7, the horizontal leg 36a of the angle beam 36 carries brackets 3| on the ends thereof. These brackets 3| each have cylindrical end portions 3|a defining hearing housings for the axles 32 of rollers 33. The rollers 33 are mounted in the tracks l5 and ride on the curved grooves provided by the flanges |5a of the tracks. The rollers 33 can be rotatably mounted around the axles 32 or the axles 32 can rotate in the curved portions 3|a of the brackets.

The rollers 33 are thus mounted laterally of the top portion of the door I6.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, brackets 34 and 35 are mounted in spaced opposed relation on each side of the middle of the angle beam 36.

As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 34 has an inwardly extending annular housing portion 36 provided with a marginal flange 36a. An annular plate 31 is riveted to the margin 36a by means of rivets such as 36.

The housing 36 has a horizontally disposed boss portion36b extending outwardly therefrom and provided with diametrically opposed slots 360 in its outer rim edge.

The bracket 35 is similar to the bracket 34 except that it is not provided with the boss portion 36b. The bracket 35 therefore has an annular housing portion 39 provided with a flat g marginal flange 39b receiving an annular plate 46 held thereagainst by means of rivets such as 4|. A hollow winding drum or mandrel 42 is equipped with hollow trunnions 43 at the ends thereof. The trunnions 43 have race rings or collars 44 forced thereon. The collars 44 extend through the housings 36 and 39 and through the plates 3! and 46 carried by the housings.

Antifriction elements such as ball bearings 45 are disposed between the collars 44 and the housings 36 and 39.

The winding drum or mandrel 42 is thus rotatably mounted in the housing portions of the brackets 34 and 35 and extends transversely along the inner face of the door I 6 near the top edge of the door.

A coiled spring 46 (Figure 3) is mounted in the drum 42 and has the end thereof adjacent the bracket 35 extending through a hole 41 in the drum 42. The end of the spring 46 projecting through the hole 41 is bent over on the surface of the drum 42 as at 48 so as to anchor this end of the spring against rotation.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, a metal member 56 extends through the boss 36b of the housing 36 and the trunnion 43 of the winding drum 42 into the interior of the drum. The member 56 has two outturned fingers 5| and 52 at the inner end thereof. The ends of the tingers 5| and 52 are bent around the end coil of the spring 46 and the end of the spring 46 respectively as shown at 53 and 54 to anchor the spring.

The portion of the member 56 extending beyond the boss 36b of the housing 36 is formed with an opening 55 therethrough for receiving a locking bar or pin 56. The ends of the pin or bar 56 are seated in the grooves 360 of the boss 36b to hold the member 56 against rotation.

' This construction thus provides for the winding of the spring 46 in the drum 42 if such winding is necessary. The member 56, as best shown in Figure 5, can be bent from a single piece of bar or strip metal.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a cable 66 is adapted to be wound around the drum 42 and is anchored at one end in a latch 6| formed on the periphery of the drum.

The cable 66 extends from the drum 42 along the inner face of the door I6 into the housing 26 at the bottom of the door where it is trained around the sheave or grooved pulley 21, through the opening 26 in the door and up along the outer face of the 'door in the groove 26 provided for the purpose. The other end of the cable is anchored in a bracket 62 secured on the inner face of the lintel 4 of the doorway.

A spring pressed lock 63 (Figure 1) is mounted on the inner face of the door l6 adjacent a striker plate l9 and the spring urged bolt portion 63a thereof is adapted to snap over the striker plate for locking the door. A chain or other flexible means 64 can extend from the lock 63 to a thumb latch 65 mounted in the door for manual operation of the bolt 63a. The thumb latch can be actuated from both sides of the door l6.

A pull strap 66 is suspended on the inner face of the door |6 from a bracket 61 carried on the door in spaced relation from the bottom thereof.

In assembling the door in the doorway the door is mounted in overhead position on the tracks l5. The cable 66 is then adjusted to the desired length. This places the spring 46 in the winding drum 42 under a slight tension to hold the door in open position.

The door is then pulled downward to closed position, thereby causing the cable to unwind from the drum 42. This unwinding of the cable, of course, winds the spring. As the door assumes a vertical position the locking bolt 63 automatically springs over the striker plate Is to lock the door. The links or arms 23 serve to pivot the door about the brackets 24 on the door Jamb as it is moved from open or closed position. The flanges I8 at the topends of the weather strips l6 center the door in the doorway.

The weight of the door is thus spring-balanced and the spring tension can be regulated as desired to hold the door open with any. desired amount of force and to permit. the door to remain closed without looking. If desired, on the other hand, the spring tension can be regulated so that the door willautomatically open upon release of the locking bolt 63a.

It is ordinarily desirable to regulate the spring tension in the winding drum so that the weight of the door in closed position will overbalance the spring tension and the door will remain closed while at the same time the portion of the weight of the door unsupported by the overhead tracks in open position-will be less than the spring force acting on the open door so that the door will remain in open position. This spring tension makes possible an operation of the door by equally applied manual forces for pulling the door closed or for swinging the door open.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9,

parts identical with parts described in Figures 1 to '7 are marked with the same reference nu;- merals.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9,. the top of the door has a metal angle beam 10 extending thereacross The angle beam Ill has a long leg orweb ll thereof bolted to the inner face of the door ill at the top thereof,while the other leg 12 of the beam extends across the top edge of the door. The brackets 34 and 35' for the winding drum 42 are mounted on the leg ll of the beam I0.

A bracket 13 is bolted on the leg 12 of the beam 10 at the center of the door Ill. A link H is pivoted in the bracket 13 at the bottom end thereof.

The other end of the link I4 carries a roller 15 rotatable about an axle 1511 secured in the link. The roller 15 is mounted ina track I6 extending inwardly from the lintel I4. The end of the track 16 can be secured in a bracket 11 mounted on the lintel. This bracket 1'! can also serve as an anchor for the cable 60.

In the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9, therefore, only a single track is used to support the top end of the door Ill.

The doors of this invention are thus adapted for use with either a mono-rail or a pair of rails in a building or garage only requires the mounting of a single track or a pair of tracks in the building and the mounting of the bottom weather strips, striker plates and link brackets on the door jambs. An unskilled mechanic can readily install'the doors of this invention in a short time. We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. 7

We claim as our invention:

.1. In a construction having a doorway, a track extending laterally from the top of the doorway, a door for closing said doorway, means carried by the top of the door movable in said track, a winding device rotatably carried by said door, flexible means windable around said device, a pulley rotatably carried by said door near the bottom thereof, said flexible means trained around said pulley and anchored at the top of said doorway, and means for rotating said winding device.

2. In a building having a doorway, a track extending laterally from the top porton of the doorway, a door for closing said doorway, a roller carried by said door engageable in-said track, flexible means anchored at one end at the top of the doorway and trained through the bottom portion of the door, and a winding device rotatably mounted on the inner face of the door having the other end of said flexible means secured thereon, said flexible means extending along the outer face of the door when the door is in closed position and said winding device adapted to receive said flexible means therearound as the door is moved from closed to open position.

3. In a building having a doorway, tracksextending from the sides of the doorway into the building, a door for closing said doorway, rollers carried by said door engageable in said tracks, link arms pivoted to the sides of the doorway and to the bottom portion of the door, a winding device rotatably mounted on said door, said door "having an opening therethrough near the bottom thereof, a cable extending through said opening and anchored on. one end to the top of the doorway and at the other end to said winding drum and means for rotating said winding drum.

4. In a building having a doorway, tracks extending inwardly from the top of the doorway, a door for closing said doorway, rollers carried by the top of the door engageable in said tracks, link arms pivoted to the sides of the doorway and to the bottom portion of the door, a winding drum rotatably mounted on said door near the top thereof, said door having an opening therethrough near the bottom thereof, a grooved pulley rotatably mounted on said door adjacent said opening and a cable trained around said pulley through said opening, said cable being anchored at one end to the top of the doorway and at the other end to said winding drum.

5. In a building having a doorway, tracks extending laterally from the top of the doorway, a door for closing said doorway, rollers carried by the top of the door engageable in said tracks, means pivoting the door about the sides of the doorway, a cable extending through the bottom portion of said door, means anchoring one end of said cable to the top of the doorway, means anchoring the other end of said cable on said door, said cable being trained along both faces of the door, and means for pulling said cable to move the bottom portion of the door towards the top of the doorway. I

6. In a building having a doorway, a door for closing the doorway, a single track extending inwardly from the center of the doorway at the top thereof, a roller carried by the top portion of the door engageable in'said track, a winding drum rotatably carried by said door near the top thereof, a sheave rotatably carried by the door in spaced relation below said drum, said door having an opening therethrough adjacent the sheave, a cable trainedover said sheave anchored at one end on said drum and at the other end at the top of the doorway and a spring motor in said drum to wind the cable thereon for operating the door.

'7. Apparatus for balancing an upward acting door which comprises a spring-actuated Winding drum rotatably mounted on the door, a grooved through and a cable trained around said pulley secured at one end to the top of a doorway and at the other end to said winding drum.

8. In an upward acting door construction for a doorway, a door, said door having an opening therethrough near the bottom thereof, a housing carried on the inner face of said door adjacent said opening, a sheave rotatably mounted in said housing, a cable secured-at the top ofv thedoorr way trained through said opening and around said sheave, and means for actuating the cable to facilitate opening and closing of the door,

9. In an upward acting door construction for.

a doorway, a door having an opening therethrough near the bottom thereof, a grooved pulley rotatably mounted on the inner face of said door adjacent said opening, said pulley extending into said opening and saiddoor having a groove in the outer face thereof extending from said opening to the top portion of the door, a flexible means I secured at one end to the top of the doorway trained along said groove into the opening'and around the pulley, and a door counterbalancing means acting on the other end of the flexible. means to facilitate opening and closing of the door.

10. An upward acting closure member comprising a door, a winding drum rotatably mounted on the inner face of the door near the top thereof;- a helical spring in said drum having one end thereof anchored to the drum, means for anchoring the'other end of the spring to the door, said door having an opening therethrough in spaced relation below the winding drum, a sheave rotatably mounted on the inner face of the door adjacent said opening, flexible means anchored at one end to said drum and trained around said sheave through said opening and means for anchoring the otherend of the flexible means to an overhead stationary support whereby a winding of the flexible means on the drum will open the door.

11. A cable actuated closure member for .a

- doorway comprising a door having an opening therethrough,'a rotatable pulley carried by the door adjacent the opening, a winding device carried by the inner face of the doorat the top of the door above the pulley, a stationary support at the top of the doorway, a cable anchored at one end to said support and trained down the outer face of the door through the opening, around the pulley and upward along the inner face of the doorand means anchoring the other end of the cable on the winding device.

12. An upward acting closure comprising a closure member having an openingv therethrough near the bottom thereof, counterbalancing means anchored to the top portion of the closure, a.

stationary support at the top ofthe closure, and a flexible means extending from the counterbalancing means to the stationary support and trained through said opening whereby saidcoun- .terbalancing means will facilitate opening and closing of the closure member and will check any further opening movement of the-closure which tends to increase the length of the flexible means between the stationary support and the opening in the closure member. 13. An upward acting closure for an openin in a construction which comprises a closure member' for said-opening, a spring counterbalancing means for said closure member anchored on one face of the member, and a flexible. means anchored at one end thereof at the top of the construction opening andat the other end thereofto the counterbalan'cing means, said flexible means traversingthe closure member near the bottom thereof and trained along both faces of the closure member when the member is in closed position, and said spring counterbalancing means facilitating movement and closing of the closure but checking any further opening movement of the closure tending'to increase the length of the flexible means between the end thereof anchored on the construction and the closure member.

14. An upward acting closure for an opening a in a construction which comprises a closure member for said opening, an actuating device for said closure member anchored on one face of the member, and a flexible means anchored to the top of the construction opening and to the actuating means, said flexible-means traversing the closure member near the bottom thereof and trained along the face of the closure member opposite the face on which the actuating device is mounted when the closure member is in closed position. f

' 15. In a building having an opening, a closure member for said opening, a single counterbalancing means for said closure, and a flexible means extending between the top of said opening and the bottom portion of said closure member, said flexible means being operatively connected to the counterbalancing means for facilitating opening and closing of the door and being trained along the outer face of the closure whenvthe closure is in closed position.

HENRY J. SIESS. JOSEPH E. CASSE. 

